Gauge



L. R. PISTOLES GAUGE Jan. 12, 1954 2,665,495

Filed Dec. 15, 1950 2 She-ets-Shee l es vIIYS/LNTL7R' LAMBERT R. FISTULES' TTUENEY Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE GAUGE Lambert R. Pistoles,` Wihnington, Del. Application December 13, 1950, Serial No. 200,572

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to gages, and more particularly to gages of the go and no-go type adapted for gaging axial lengths and the like.

In copending applications Serial No. 39,138 and Serial No. 62,737, now Patent 2,610,409, led August i6, 1948, and November 30, 1948, respectively, there are disclosed gages for measuring lengths of turned members and the like, in which there is a block having a dihedral for engaging a cylindrical surface of the turned member, and a length rod mounted in relation to the dihedral so that such rod will extend parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface engaged by the di- 'hedrall The present invention relates to gaging block assemblies, having transversely extending movable blades which may .be mounted upon the bar at various positions and in which the blades are moved toward a transverse surface of the work piece to be gaged by mechanism adapted to respond to nger manipulation.

The invention further relates to gaging blade supporting block assemblies which are constructed 'in two parts and adapted to be secured upon -'the parallel rod in such manner that accidental shock tending to disturb the setting will render manipulation of the blades impossible. The invention further has to do with mechanism whereby ringer manipulation of sliding telescopiclike members in a direction transverse of the rod will eiect movement of the gaging blades in a plane transverse to the rod, to bringsuch blades into gaging relation. The invention is also directed to an assembly of the type referred to which will be accurate, easily set, and readily manipulated.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a gage of the type described provided with three of such lgaging blocks;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan View, partly `in section, of one of the gaging blocks taken subfstantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the gaging block, parts .of which `are shown in section;V

Figure 4 is a top plan view taken in section substantially on the line 6 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, to illustrate the blade translating mechanism; and i Y Figure '7 is a top sectional View taken substantially on the line 7 1 of Figure 6.

In Figure 1, there is shown a gage I0 having an end block I 2 provided with a shallow dihedral It for engaging a cylindrical surface such as I 6 of a work piece to be gaged. The block I2 adjustably supports a gage rod I8 extending parallel with the axis of the cylindrical work piece i6 and the apex line I5 of such dihedral. Where the rod is of extended length, a supporting bracket 2li and guide 22 may be provided. The

Arod i8 may be secured in the block I 2 as by a set screw 24 or any other means, as, for example, shown in the afore-mentioned Vapplications, but in practice such rod will usually 4be xed Yagainst movement in the dihedral block.- The block l2 is provided with sliding plates 26 and 28, such plates having plane surfaces adapted to extend perpendicular to the axis of the rod I8, as also described in said applications. The plate 26 is shown slid to a position whereby the tongue end 3i) provides an extended surface 32Y adapted to engage the transverse plane end 33 of the work piece l 5. Either the plate 26 or the plate 28 may be utilized, when slid in the manner described, to engage a shoulder or end surface on the turned object which may act as a reference plane in the gaging operations to be performed.

Mounted on the bar I8 are gaging assemblies 34, 36, and 38, each having gaging blades pref--l erably arranged in pairs as generally indicated at All, 42 and 44. These blades are movable transversely in the assemblies by mechanism to be described, so as to extend toward the work piece andto gage shouldered surfaces such as 45, 48, and 50, to determine whether such surfaces are accurately located axiallyv with reference to the end surface 33. Each of the gaging assemblies comprises a pair of blocks 52 and 54 having apertures 56 and 58 through which extendthe rod I8. Each of the blocks are provided with transversely extending set screws 60 and 62 which are adapted to engage the rod I8 to x the blocks upon the rod I 8 in set position. The block 54 is provided with a plane surface 64 extending transversely to the axis of the bore 58. 'I'he block 52 is provided with transverse slots 66 and 68 in which are positioned gaging blades lll and 12. The depth of the slots is slightly less than the width of the blades, so that a certain clearance 14 between the blocks 54 and 52 is required when the blocks are properly set upon the rod I8 to provide suicient clearance so that the blades 10 and 12 may be freely moved in their respective slots 66 and 5S. The blades 10 and 11. are constructed of hardened steel, and their edge surfaces 15 and 18 are true parallel planes and the surface 1E is adapted to bear against the plane surface 64 of the block 54, so that the blades may at ell times extend at right angles to the axis of the rod |8.

It will be seen by reference to Figure 6 that when the blades are moved toward the work piece, a gaging surface 80 will be brought into relation with a shoulder 82 on the work piece i5 to be gaged, and that es the blade is projected from the block toward the work piece, it can be quickly ascertained whether the surface 3|! will clear the shoulder 82. In practice. for example, the blade 10 will Vhave a surface 80 adrpted to just clear the shoulder 82, while the second blade 12 may be provided with a surface several thousandths of an inch laterally disposed in vrelation to the surface 30, whereby such blade will not clear. It can thus be determined readily bv xroving the blades toward the work piece whether the shoulder is in the proper axial position b v determining that one blade does not clear the shoulder and that the other one does. If both blades clear the shoulder, the shoulder is improperly positioned, and if neither` blade clears the shoulder, inaccuracy is likewise indicated.

The block 52 is provided with mechanism for moving the blades 18 and 12 to and from the gaging vpositions as indicated. In the block, there are mounted opposed finger pieces 84 and 85 formed as right angle extensions upon rack bars 88 and Sil. Such rack bars lie in a transverse groove 92 across the ton face of the block 52, and are transversely slidable within such groove. The rack bars are held in position by a T-shaped top plate 94 secured as by screws 9B, the T- shaped plate affording openings 98 and |05, and stop surfaces |02 and |04, so that the finger pieces 84 and 86 may be pinched or squeezed together, sliding the rack bars until such fingers engage the stop surfaces |02 and |04. Each of the fingers is provided with a boss or stud |55 and |08 axially aligned and about which is positioned a compression return spring H0. The studs |06 and |08 are of such a length as to engage one another when the finger pieces are squeezed together and the spring I compressed, limiting the relative movement of the finger pieces prior to their engagement with the stops |02 or |04, if desired.

The rack bar 88 is provided with rack teeth H2 along one edge, and is cut away as at H4 to clear the nger piece 8B. The rack bar S0 is provided with teeth HB. Both rack bars are provided with clearances as at 3 and |28 so as not to interfere with the pinions |22 and |24 engaged with the rack bars. The pinions |22 and |24 arerso arranged as to effect a stop for the outward movement of the rack bars, a pinion tooth such as |26 engaging the edge of the rack bars beyond the last tooth cut as at |28 to limit movement of the rack bar in one direction. Each of the pinions |22 and |24 are formed on stub shafts |30 and |32 which stub shafts are journaled in bores such as |34.

The block 52 is provided with a deep Slot 35 of sufficient width to receive spiral gears Such as |38 and |40, which spiral gears are shrunk fit upon the stub shafts |30 and |32, the assembly being effected by positioning the gears |38 and |40 in their slots in alignment with the bores |34, after which the stub shafts |30 and |32 are driven into place. The spiral gears |38 and |40 are provided with teeth such as |42 cut on a 45 angle, 2nd are adapted to engage corresponding rack teeth |44 angularly .disposed and formed in the edges 18 of each of the blades 10 and 12.

When the finger pieces are squeezed together, the spiral gears |38 and |48 rotate in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure '7, and the spiral teeth of such gears and the teeth in the blades 18 and 12 are oppositely cut so that upon rotation of the gears |38 and |40, both blades are driven downwardly through the block in the same direction (see Figure 6).

The block 52 may be reinforced with respect to the slot |36 by positioning of spacer collars |45 and |48 :on pins |50 and |52, such spacer collars serving to rigidly space the portions of the block spaced by the slot |35.

The block 54 is provided with a pair of set screws |54 and |55 extending parallel with the bore 52, the set screws being of the socket end type. Such set screws are adapted to bear against the surface |58 of the block 52 and provide a means for accurately spacing the blocks so as to provide the exact amount of clearance necessary for the free movement of the blades 10 and 12 in their respective grooves 66 and |53. In prac tice, the block 54 will be set upon the rod |'8 in. such position as to lock the plane surface 64 in the desired gaging position. At this point, the sets crew 62 will be tightened to rigidly hold the block 54 in position. Thereafter, the block 52 will be slid toward the block 54 `and lightly secured temporarily by the set lscrew 60, leaving no clearance for the free movement of the blades 'E8 and 12. Thereafter, adjustments of the set screws |54 and |55 will increase the clearance 14 between the blocks 52 and 54, and as soon as the blades 10 and 12 are sufficiently free for manipulation, the set screw 60 will be tightened so that both blocks 52 and 54 are rigidly secured on the bar |8, and the gage is thus set for operation.

It will be understood that `should either of the blocks '50 or 62 of the gage be accidentally struck or subiected to shock, provided set screws |54 and |55 are backed off, such shock will act to move the blocks toward one another and thereby close off the necessary sliding clearance required by the blades 10 and 12, rendering manipulation of the gage impossible. This feature protects the gage from being used when there is a likelihood that its setting has been disturbed by abuse. Likewise, the blades 10 and 12 will not move within their respective slots of deranged or slightly bent by abuse. Thus, the gage, once set, will accurately operate so long as proper use is made of it.

By setting a plurality of assemblies on the rod 8, any combination of surfaces can be quickly inspected for accuracy, the operator holding the dihedral and slide plate in position upon the Work piece, with one hand, and quickly squeezing the nger pieces of the gage block assemblies, one after the other, to determine the accuracy of the work piece.

It will readily be seen that by separating the blocks, the blades may be removed and different blades having different end gaging surfaces substituted, or that upon damage to a blade, a new one may be quickly inserted.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention, as Will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference may be had to the appended claims for a dennition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a, gage of the type described, in combination, a support rod, means for supporting said rod in parallel relation and in xed axial relation to a turned object having a transverse shoulder axially along its length, a pair of blocks mounted on said rod, said blocks each having an aperture through which said rod extends, and means for frictionally securing said blocks in position upon said rod, one of said blocks having a plane surface at right angles to the axis of said aperture andA adapted to face the adjoining block, and the other of said blocks having an adjacent parallel face having a transverse groove therein, a gaging blade having parallel edges slidably disposed in said groove, and with one of said edges in sliding engagement with said plane surface, and means mounted in said last-named block for slidably moving said blade in said groove to project an end of said blade beyond said block toward said object.

v 2. In a gage of the type described, in combination, la support rod, means for supporting said rod in parallel relation and in fixed axial relation to a turned object having a transverse shoulder axially along its length, a pair of blocks mounted on said rod, said blocks each having an aperture through which said rod extends and means for frictionally securing said blocks in position upon said rod, one of said blocks having a plane surface at right angles to the axis of said aperture and adapted to face the adjoining block, and the other of said blocks having an adjacent parallel face having a transverse groove therein, a gaging blade having parallel edges slidably disposed in said groove, and with one of said edges in sliding engagement with said plane surface, means mounted in said last-named block for slidably moving said blade in said groove to project an end of said blade beyond said block toward said object, and adjustable abutment means in said first-named block extending through said surface and adapted to abut the face of the second block, to set the spacing between said blocks to afford needed clearance for the sliding of said blade.

3. In a gage of the type described, in combination, a support rod, means for supporting said rod in parallel relation and in xed axial relation to a turned object having a transverse shoulder axially along its length, a pair of blocks mounted on said rod, said blocks each having an aperture through which said rod extends, and means for frictionally securing said blocks in spaced position upon said rod, one of said blocks having a plane-surface at right angles to the axis of said aperture and adapted to face the adjoining block, and the other of said blocks having an adjacent face having a pair of parallel transverse grooves arranged on opposite sides of said aperture, gaging blades having parallel edges slidably disposed Ain said grooves, one of the edges of each blade being in sliding engagement with said plane surface, and means mounted in said last-named groove to project the ends of said blades beyond said block toward said object.

4. In a gage of the type described, in combination, a support rod, means for supporting said rod in parallel relation and in fixed axial relation to a turned object having a transverse shoulder axially along its length, a pair of blocks mounted on said rod, said blocks each having an aperture through which said rod extends, and means for frictionally securing said blocks in adjacent spaced position upon said rod, one of said blocks having a plane surface at right angles to the axis of said aperture and adapted to face the adjoining block, and the other of said blocks having an adjacent face having a pair of parallel transverse grooves arranged on opposite sides of said apertures, gaging blades having parallel edges slidably disposed in said grooves, With one of the edges of each blade in sliding engagement with said plane surface, means mounted in said lastnamed block for slidably moving said blades in said groove to project the ends of said blades beyond said block toward said object, and adjustable abutment means in one of said blocks extending parallel With the aperture therein and adapted to abut the adjacent block to set the spacing between the face and surface of said blocks to afford needed clearance for the sliding of said blades.

5. In a gage of the type described, in combination, a support rod, a pair of blocks each having an aperture through which said rod slidably extends, means for securing said blocks in selected positions upon said rod contiguous to one another, one of said blocks having a plane surface extending at right angles to the axis of its aperture, the other of said blocks having a transverse groove in a face thereof adjacent said plane surface, a blade slidably mounted in said groove and having parallel Vedges spaced apart at least the depth of the groove, one of said edges being adapted to engage said plane surface, and springbiased manipulating means coacting With said blade mounted on said last-named block for sliding said blade in the groove to project an end thereof from the block for a gaging operation.

6. In a gage of the type described, in combination, a support rod, a pair of blocks each having an aperture through which said rod slidably extends, means for securing said blocks in selected positions upon said rod contiguous to one another, one of said blocks having a plane surface extending at right angles to the axis of its aperture, the other of said blocks having a transverse groove in a face thereof adjacent said plane surface, a blade slidably mounted in said groove, and having parallel edges spaced apart at least the depth of the groove, one of said edges being adapted to engage said plane surface, and the other edge having angularly disposed rack teeth, a spiral toothed rack gear journaled in said latter block and engaging said teeth, and spring-biased manipulating means mounted in said block for rotating said gear.

7. In a gage of the type described, in combination, a support rod, a pair of blocks each having an aperture through which said rod slidably extends, means fo-r securing said blocks in selected positions upon said rod contiguous to one another, one of said blocks having a plane surface extending at right angles to the axis of its aperture, the other of said blocks having a transverse groove in a face thereof adjacent said plane surface, a blade slidably mounted in said groove, and having block for slidably moving said blades in said parallel edges spaced apart at least the depth of the groove, one of said edges being adapted to engage said plane surface, and the other edge having angularly disposed rack teeth, a spiral toothed rack gear journaled in said latter block and engaging said teeth, said rack gear being mounted on a stub shaft having a rack pinion, and a spring-biased manipulating rack slidably mounted in said block for movement transverse to said stub shaft, said rack drivably engaging said pinion.

8. In a gage of the type described, a block, an aperture extending therethrough, a face extending transversely of the axis of said aperture, a groove in said. face to one side of said aperture, a gaging blade having parallel edges spaced apart at least the depth of the groove slidably positioned in said groove and having its inner edge provided with inclined rack teeth, the outer edge of said blade being adapted to engage a true surface of a member mounted contiguous to said face, a slot in said face extending transversely of the groove, a spiral gear located in said slot with its pitch circle traversing the bottom of said groove, a stub shaft for said gear extending parallel with said groove and into said slot, a pinion on said stub shaft, a guideway in said bloei: extending transversely of said stub shaft and adjacent said pinion, and a rack slidably positioned in said guideway in engagement with said pinion.

9. In a gage block, a circular aperture extending therethrough, a plane surface along one face thereof extending at right angles to the of said aperture, parallel blade-receiving grooves extending across said surface on either side of said aperture, a deep slot in said surface to one side of said aperture, and extending transversely of said grooves, a stub shaft traversing said slot behind each blade groove, a guidevvay extending across another face of said block, having an edge thereof extending substantially tangential to both said shafts, spiral gears Within said slot on each of said shafts having pitch circles intersecting the base of the respective blade groove forwardly thereof, pinions on said shafts having pitch circles extending Within said channel, a pair of rack bars in said channel, one engaging one of said pinions and the other engaging the other, finger pieces extending from said rack bars for joint manipulation thereof, and resilient means for biasing said bars to move said nger pieces away from one another.

10. In a gage block, a circular aperture extending therethrough, a plane surface along one face thereof extending at right angles to the axis of said aperture, parallel blade-,receiving grooves extending across said surface on either side of said aperture, a deep slot in said surface to one side of said aperture, and extending transversely of said grooves, a stub shaft traversing said slot behind each blade groove, a guideway extending across another face of said block, having an edge thereof extending substantially tangential to both said shafts, spiral gears within said slot on slot on each of said shafts having pitch circles intersecting the base of the respective blade groove forwardly thereof, blades in said grooves having inclined rack teeth engaging said spiral gears, pinions on said shafts having pitch circles extending Within said channel, a pair of rack bars in said channel, one engaging one of said pinions and the other engaging the other, finger pieces extending from said rack bars for joint manipulation thereof, and resilient means for biasing said bars to move said finger pieces away from one another.

11. In a gage of the type described, in combination, a pair of gage blocks, a circular aperture extending through each of said blocks, said blocks having facing plane surfaces along one face of each extending at right angles to the axis of their respective apertures, a rod extending through said apertures, and means for securing said blocks in position upon said rod, parallel blade-receiving grooves extending across the surface on either side of said aperture on one of said blocks, a deep slot in said last-named surface to one side of said aperture, and extending transversely of said grooves, a stub shaft traversing said slot behind each blade groove, a guide- Way extending across another face of said one blade, having an edge thereof extending substantially tangential to both said shafts, spiral gears within said slot on each of said shafts having pitch circles intersecting the base of the respective blade groove forwardly thereof, gaging blades having parallel edges lying in said grooves, one edge of which is adapted to engage the plane surface of the other block, and the other edge of which is provided with inclined rack teeth, pinions on said shafts having pitch circles extending within said channel, a pair of rack bars in said channel, one engaging one of said pinions and the other engaging the other, finger pieces extending from said rack bars for joint manipulation thereof, and resilient means for biasing said rack bars to move said finger pieces away from each other.

LAMBERT R. PISTOLES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

